Don't think an incumbent House member from Dallas County can lose in a primary? Two largely unknown women politicos have proved that theory wrong.

Democrat Jessica Gonzalez and Republican Lisa Luby Ryan don't have much in common. Gonzalez is a progressive, while Ryan has become a hard-right conservative. But they both showcased the increasing power that women candidates wield in Dallas County.

Gonzalez beat longtime Democratic incumbent Roberto Alonzo in the House District 104 primary, while Ryan knocked off Jason Villalba in the House District 114 Republican primary.

The winning duo shows that it doesn't matter if you are a Democrat or a Republican, if you run a credible campaign, you have a shot to win.

Gonzalez and Ryan were given big openings by the incumbents they beat.

A Dallas lawyer making her first run for public office, Gonzalez took advantage of an anti-incumbent mood to stun Alonzo. Because there's no Republican running in the fall, Gonzalez is headed to Austin.

Jessica Gonzalez

First elected in 1992, Alonzo irked some district residents when he opposed a bill by state Rep. Eric Johnson to address concerns about the lack of affordable housing in West Dallas. The 61-year-old lawmaker also opposed efforts by Johnson to protect residents against voter fraud.

Gonzalez, 37, capitalized, telling voters that it was time for new leadership, and linked her campaign with the ever-increasing progressive movement in North Oak Cliff.

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The Dallas lawyer has served as a legislative assistant in the U.S. House and was a law clerk at the U.S. Department of Civil Rights-Voting Rights Division.

Alonzo also may have miscalculated the strength of Gonzalez's campaign. His team tried to largely ignore Gonzalez, until it was clear her movement was gaining traction.

After years of beating back attempts by former state Rep. Domingo Garcia to wrestle the seat away from him, it's significant that a political newcomer knocked Alonzo off his perch.

Ryan, a businesswoman who once thought about running in the Park Cities-anchored district represented by Republican Morgan Meyer, took advantage of an increasingly conservative Republican electorate to defeat Villalba.

Lisa Luby Ryan (Carter Rose)

The Lake Highlands/North Dallas district is thought to be chock-full of moderates like Villalba, a three-term veteran.

But Ryan, 57, cast the incumbent as a do-nothing back bencher. Her mailers rehashed Villalba's pointed criticism of President Donald Trump.

"Tired of being embarrassed by liberal Jason Villalba?" one of Ryan's mailers asked. "It's time for a change."

For years Villalba, 46, had been bracing for a challenge from what he considered the fringe right. In Ryan his enemies found the perfect weapon to bring him down.

What a #blessing it has been to serve. I can never repay those who have supported me. Congratulations to @lisalubyryan, a tenacious fighter who deserved to win. She was the better candidate. #TxLege.

On Wednesday, Villaba tweeted that it was a pleasure to serve the district and praised Ryan as the better candidate. Ryan will have opposition in the fall -- John Turner -- in the district that has in the past has been considered a swing district. Turner is the son of former Democratic congressman Jim Turner.

In Dallas County House incumbents rarely lose primary battles. Gonzalez and Ryan have proven that strong messages and solid campaigning can indeed shake things up.

Gromer Jeffers Jr., political writer. The Howard University graduate and Chicago native has covered four presidential campaigns and written extensively about local, state and national politics. Before The News, he was a reporter at The Kansas City Star and The Chicago Defender. You can catch Gromer every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on NBC 5's Lone Star Politics.